Undoubtedly, child labor is one of the serious issues that plague oursociety. This is not only observed in India but countries throughout the world. Invariably all magazines, NGOs, news channels devote some time or pages to cover this subject. However, it seems that eradication of Child Labor is next to impossible. How far can we eliminate child labor? If achieved, what impact will it have on the Indian Economy? These are some of the rhetorical questions that arise.
The foremost task towards elimination of child labor is “providing primary education to all kids”. Education is their right and all of us (blessed to be privileged) along with the Government should do the needful to provide them this. Easier said than done! However, child labor cannot be stopped without considering the consequences. We should be prepared with the alternate arrangements for the havoc child labor elimination would create.
I just can’t imagine the amount of the problems faced by families under the poverty line. Are the parents not interested in getting their kids educated? Then why they have to depute their kids to earn money by doing some job or other. Stop your vehicle at any traffic signal in our country. You will be invaded by kids seeking alms. They are employees of their parents, who in the name of recreation produce kids that can be used for as investment!
While we foresee all rosy pictures, we fail to see the reality of those people who suffer from the poverty. Can any one assure them that whoever studies get an employment? What is the surety that if this kid, if made study, would excel in study (or even pass the SSC) so as to make an earning? Scholarship, mid-day meal – are these sufficient to encourage these kids to study? I am not against these kids studying but would like to see the other side of the story.
Let us visualize this scene. All these working kids are adapted by an NGO who made them pass SSC. These kids started working. In India, there are no child labors. Now that these kids have passed SSC, the competition is heating up and they naturally expect more perks. Now, the hotelier has to shell out double the amount what he paid to clean a table or to supply water; we may have to spend double the amount for the crackers we buy today, same is the story with our inner garments!
Will this solve our problem or bring in more problems?
I would like to share another story from an NGO. An NGO gathered all the beggars (of course kids) from a city and brought them to a vocational training school. It was an “Earn as you learn” course! These kids were paid for the job they did. Surprisingly, after a month (once the euphoria receded) all the kids escaped from the place. When they were contacted they replied, "we were earning around Rs 250/- a day on an average and during festive seasons, we used to earn even Rs 500 /- day whereas here after a months toiling, we are paid only Rs 750/- Why should I work here when I get ten times more outside without studying?"
I knew a kid worked in the auto-mechanic shop opposite to my house. Now he owns a garage repairing cars. Even had he done an automobile engineering course, he would not be earning so much!
Whether you like it or not, in India, one's success is measured by the wealth he amasses!
Another grey area is how to classify child labor? Should I say, those kids who are participating in the “talent-hunt” shows hosted by TV Channels are also child labor. They are paid and channels earn through them? Should we say, “Child artistes are child labor?” Imagine the sudden demise of a businessman bereaved by an uneducated spouse but smart kid. This kid takes up his father’s business. Is this child labor? A road side vendor utilizes the service of his son in his work – is this child labor? – How do we discriminate?
Then why don’t we stop child artiste featuring in films and advts? Why don’t the talent shows are stopped from beaming in air? Elite is elite! They are always excused!
I do agree the kids have to get educated but teach them in the evenings, allow them to work because they are winning the bread for their family. There are lots of families who rely on such kids working elsewhere! If you are keen on making these kids educated do it without spoiling their earnings.
I would like to recall Gandhi’s words, "In India we have three million people who have to be satisfied with one meal a day. We have no right to anything we have until these three million are fed better. You and I, who ought to know better, must adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntary starvation in order that they may be nursed, fed and clothed.”
I beg to differ from Gandhi. Why should I starve because someone else does so! Instead, I should be ready to share my food with them or make a way that they do not remain starving. Let us not starve but we can always pool in our wealth as to make these study without spoiling their earnings. Of course, this needs an innovative solution. There are organizations doing such yeomen service to the society. Let us help them but please do not talk of stopping child labor. 'Coz this feeds many a families here.
Close
naqvi, i do not know how to reply you.
Reply | | Report Abuse
thank you madhvi for your valued time.
even i do sponsor a girl child however, she does not show the interest in bringing the progress card to me as she is interested in taking the money from me for fees. At times, my funds are diverted for their household and they do not pay fees. I do not blame them but circumstances forces them to do so! She is now working part-time in a copier-shop and take care of studies.
as i mentioend in the blog, it is us, the previleged one should bail them out of such situations. Simply stopping child labor will do no good to the society!
Reply | | Report Abuse
very well said. I agree with you whole heartedly. let them earn and learn with that.
Learning for them should be practical vocational courses and not complicated maths!
I also suggest all college students should work for three months to educate these children in their environment, before they get their degrees. I am sure with added help from college students this problem somewhat can be tackled.
Madhvi
Reply | | Report Abuse
Discrimination
Human faith religion starts from the premise of humanity which is more than a physical face and biological organism. It is a wisdom that can only be obtained from the nature of God. It is a stage of awareness where purity of living in the physical senses without bias. Today the global women health and education crisis is result of Christian ethics of distributing education unequally. Education for the women’s of the world. We know that the "God Save the Queen and Queen Save the World “ The only way we can treat the world phenomena of poverty, population, Health, war, global warming, earth, children and racial issues and many more by educating the Queen. It is time to break the prison camp of Christianity in order to change system of the world leadership and to stop educational discrimination from developed nations. The problem is when someone uneducated and dust colored like me tries to prove something it is called delusion and the same product gets new name and introduced by some privileged member of Christianity called illusion. The issue we see in many undeveloped nations is that the majority of there best minds and educated people go to the America and European countries for batter life. The undeveloped country gets by one way or other because it must while they live good life comfortably as a modern slave of Christianity. As soon as their successors grow up they will follow them to find best education and work in United State and The United Kingdom. The result of this is that after every twenty or twenty five years undeveloped country goes back to the starting point again this whitish circle of helplessness continues because of Christian ethics of distributing education and keeping educated worker for them self. The easy way to stop vicious circle developed nations must educate citizen of poor and undeveloped countries in order to advance life. It is time to stop educational discrimination for humanity. Thus a free beggar is better then the President of country who is in the prison camp of Christianity. The human faith message of life and spreading the understanding of true human nature can bring peace and goodness in our life and in the life of those who are seeking truth. It is time to introduce human faith religious based on new life shining with light and full of happiness. Human faith is the real message of love and peace in the world. The goal that we set up for human being in their lives is the satisfaction and the moral value by means of which all actions must be measures to save human life. Our vision is to introduce true human nature by mobilizing communities and faiths around the world to improve people’s lives .Our mission is to strength the bond of humanity by introducing human faith religion. The "martial law” such as those operating in dictatorships and monarchies should change their unjust way of monopolizing humanity. It is scares to think that the relationships among people and organizations based on Christian ideology .I would like to request from all these Dictators, Kings, Monarchies, Army Chiefs, Organizations, Government officials, Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Religious leaders to adopt new philosophy of humanity and come out from the prison camp of Christianity .
Human faith method of teaching moral values and humanity can give realistic purpose of achieving complete fulfillment of internal life. The spiritual change from loneness to loveliness is based on love by giving unlimited trust in God (Rab). Human mind is miracle of Supreme Being when we struggle to boil it at luck warm temperature of wisdom to understand fundamental of life by reading (Rabi). The ever lasting stage of satisfaction for mind is to reach Supreme Being before death. The journey of memories can be pleasant with nine affirmations of human faith. We believe that it is time to joggle every conscious to show them that human mind is superior matter not material. The festival of life can be celebrated with wisdom of human faith knowledge once we realize that we all are part of the superior race. It advocates spiritual and moral principles on very high scales for the longest term in human history. Human faith is Adam's monotheistic faith and knows that God is the creator and overseer of the universe at all the time and all matters. It is time to modernize our faith by adopting true faith and educate mankind in accordance with basic principle of life. Our vision is to introduce true human religion by mobilizing communities and faiths around the world to improve people's lives .Our mission is to strength the bond of humanity (Rabi) by introducing human faith religion.
IN GOD (Rib) WE TRUST WE HAVE FAITH IN HUMANITY (Rabi).
http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php
Reply | | Report Abuse
Mr G
Wanna use this to thank scribblingpad for clarifying the point though I wanted to write back but missed on Mahatma...
Ether
Reply | | Report Abuse
thank you Ether for your comments.
Reply | | Report Abuse
scribbly, thank you for enlighten me on understanding Gandhi's words! thank you
Reply | | Report Abuse
I think e meant that we share our food even if it meant starvation for us. cheerss
Reply | | Report Abuse
"Whether you like it or not, in India, one's success is measured by the wealth he amasses!"
The above observation is a very young cultural developement in India...
"Elite is elite! They are always excused!" However, often the child artist may come from a financially backward family! Elite is surely elite and elite has nothing to do with negative impacts...(taken the proper meaning)
In other words stop child labour is stop child education, to educate is to labour or else fail in schools... Stop exploiting children is our moral binding...in fact stop undue exploitation of each one of us...
Reply | | Report Abuse
emotionally speaking child labor is not desired. however, conditons forces child labor. this indirectly helps us and that is the reason we are accepting it or even say we indirectly encourage it.
as a blessing in disguise, these child labors get so much experience in life that we will never get even after toiling for dogs years! they knew how to lead a life and they care a damn for the society!
i am undecided in this subject.
Reply | | Report Abuse
- 1
- 2
Displaying 1 - 10 of 16 Blog Comments